Chopped trees spark fears over security

A row of trees that provided security to nearby properties has been cut down by Persimmon Homes.

Residents living in Bolehill Park, Warren Park and St Giles Close, in Hove Edge, are outraged that the hawthorn trees have been cut down.

The company, which is building 147 new homes on the site next to Crosslee PLC, has cut down the trees so they can install a sewer pipe.

But Councillor David Kirton (Con, Hipp/Light) said the trees provided security for the homes. “We have had various issues here in the past with motorbikes zooming up and down,” he said.

“There has also been burnt out cars left down here and drugs and drinking problems in the past. So opening this lane up again will bring all these problems back again.”

Councillor Graham Hall (Con, Hipp/Light) said the company had also applied to alter some of the conditions put on when the plans were approved last year.

The application has been submitted to Calderdale Council for the variation to six of the conditions. All the conditions are highway related and Persimmon Homes would like to complete them once 100 homes have been sold as opposed to the first, which was originally agreed.

Resident Richard Broadley said they just wanted it doing right, especially where road safety was concerned.

“Cutting down the trees has got people’s back ups. We don’t want to go back to the problems we once had.”

Wayne Gradwell, managing director, said: “We have worked closely with the landowner, council, it’s tree officers and Yorkshire Water to implement a strategy to provide effective drainage on the site.

“It was agreed with the council’s tree officer that a number of trees would need to be trimmed back to provide access for us to construct the new sewer. As far as we are aware this has not impacted on any of the residents’ privacy.”